The WesTrac Bunbury Geographe Gift is set to bring some of the country’s fastest athletes to Bunbury over the long weekend in March 2019, including dual Olympians Ryan Gregson and Genevieve Gregson.

The star couple will headline the Mile races, where $5000 is on offer to the first across the line in both the men’s and women’s event, thanks to South West operations manager Glenn Gibson, from Qube Ports & Bulk.

Entries are now officially open for all athletes, who will compete for a share in the $78,000 prize pool.

Modelled on the famous Stawell Gift, the Bunbury event will feature the headline men’s and women’s 120m, races over 70m, 400m and the Mile, with Little Athletics and Masters events also returning to the program.

Gift vice-chairman and athlete liaison Dylan Panizza said the committee had worked year-round to attract high profile athletes.

“It is not just fantastic for our event but for athletics in the South West, because we will have young athletes coming in and being inspired by the performances these guys put on,” he said.

He said the handicap in the main event would give average athletes a chance to beat the professionals.

“They might work really hard to improve themselves and beat a Ryan or Genevieve Gregson on the day and have that on their wall for the rest of their lives as an achievement,” he said.